It’s touchy, to say the least. Personally, I have never observed my county as divided as it currently is. I feel grateful to be here in Spain watching the friction from a distance. I feel… safer. November 5, we have elections in my country.
What is going on in America now? Well, we have intense and polarised focus on issues such as immigration, healthcare, inflation, job security, climate policy. And then there is the recent Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, and the conspiracy theories and all the lies, lies, lies that everyone says everyone is telling; the misinformation, voter suppression, and social media drama are all adding to the confusion! Indeed, I feel safer here in Spain.
When I ask my Spanish friends what they think, many chuckle and wave it off. This reaction surprises me. We are on the brink of a civil war and my friend is asking for another beer?!
It’s as if the Spaniards were our older brother and thinking back to when they went through puberty: lots of drama, but it’s just one phase of maturing. To me, it is life and death, like a typical adolescent.
“You’ll get through it!”, they assure me.
“Yes, maybe it seems dramatic to you, but I was just hoping to live through it,” I reply sarcastically.
Personally, I have my opinion: I don’t believe in politics. Admittedly, it might come across as an exaggeration, given the need for a central organization, but expecting a political party to handle all conflicts and smoothly adapt to changing circumstances may set the bar too high. It is not realistic. Gandhi inspires me: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” I like the quote because I feel empowered, not a victim to bureaucracy.
Watching it all unfold from Spain, I’ve had a revelation. Maybe the Spanish are onto something, with their ‘older sibling’ wisdom, their shrug, and their casual call for ‘another round.’
As November 5 approaches, I’m thinking of embracing their approach. Instead of a heavy dose of anxiety, maybe I’ll treat election day like they would: sit back, sip on a café con leche, and just hope my country’s ‘adolescence’ wraps up soon. And if things really get hairy, I’ll have another café. Or maybe a beer.
In the end, I think I’ll stick with Gandhi’s wisdom: ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ And if nothing else, it’s good to remember—you can always be the change while holding a glass in hand.
Comments